releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
19
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
90
%
Field Cover
75
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot documents dry oak/heath forest with scattered Pinus pungens and P. rigida. This vegetation is characteristic of the steep, middle-elevation zone on the east slope of Peters Mountain. The pines have thin crowns and some pine snags are present near the plot. Because of gypsy moth damage, cover of canopy trees was problematic; it was estimated as if trees were fully leafed. Although no direct evidence was found, fire has probably been an important ecological factor on this slope in the past. A surprising number of low-cover xerophytic herbs occur in this vegetation.